Modular tooling approach to major structural repair

Abstract

A controller for modular tooling includes a central processing unit. A scanner port is configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between an optical scanner and the central processing unit. A database is in communicative connection with the central processing unit. The database includes at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part; at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, subassembly or component part; and a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool. An effecter port is configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between a controllable tool and the central processing unit. An operator interface is in communicative connection with the central processing unit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A controller for modular tooling, the controller comprising: 
 a central processing unit;    a scanner port configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between an optical scanner and the central processing unit;    a database in communicative connection with the central processing unit, the database including: 
 at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part;  
 at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part; and  
 a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool;  
   an effecter port configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between a controllable tool and the central processing unit; and    an operator interface in communicative connection with the central processing unit.    
     
     
         2 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the optical scanner includes a laser tracker.  
     
     
         3 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the optical scanner includes at least one  112  concern video camera.  
     
     
         4 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the database is remotely located from the controller.  
     
     
         5 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the repair database includes at least one configuration of configurable fixturing stored in association with the standardized procedure.  
     
     
         6 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the tooling library the characteristics include normalized values for the controllable tools.  
     
     
         7 . The controller of  claim 1 , wherein the operator interface includes a graphic user interface.  
     
     
         8 . A software product for controlling modular tooling, the software product comprising: 
 an interrupt assigned to a scanner port and configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between an optical scanner and a central processing unit;    a database, the database including: 
 at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part;  
 at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part; and  
 a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool;  
   an interrupt assigned to an effecter port and configured to establish and maintain communicative connection between a controllable tool and the central processing unit;    an operator interface in communicative connection with the central processing unit;    a first algorithm to compare information received at the interrupt assigned to the scanner with numeric models to produce an assessment of damage to an aircraft; and    a second algorithm to control the controllable tool, based upon the assessment and the operator interface.    
     
     
         9 . The software product of  claim 8 , wherein the optical scanner includes a laser tracker.  
     
     
         10 . The software product of  claim 8 , wherein the optical scanner includes at least one video camera.  
     
     
         11 . The software product of  claim 8 , wherein the database is remotely located from the controller.  
     
     
         12 . The software product of  claim 8 , wherein the database includes at least one configuration of configurable fixturing stored in association with the standardized procedure.  
     
     
         13 . The software of  claim 8 , wherein the database includes normalized values for the controllable tools.  
     
     
         14 . The software of  claim 8 , wherein the operator interface includes a graphic user interface.  
     
     
         15 . A method for major structural repair of an aircraft, the method comprising: 
 surveying a damaged aircraft with an optical scanner;    comparing the surveyed aircraft to a prestored numeric model of aircraft in order to establish variances between the numeric model and the surveyed aircraft;    developing a repair procedure based upon the variances, the repair procedure including using at least one controllable tool;    placing the controllable tool in relation to the damaged aircraft according to the repair procedure;    monitoring the placing of the controllable tool with the optical scanner to establish a displacement;    correcting the placing of the controllable tool based upon the displacement; and    effecting repair according to the developed procedure.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the optical scanner includes a laser tracker.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the optical scanner includes a video camera.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein developing of a repair procedure includes referring to a repair database.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein placing a controllable tool includes fixing the damaged aircraft in space.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein effecting the repair includes monitoring by the optical scanner.  
     
     
         21 . A portable modular tooling platform for working on a workpiece, the tooling platform comprising: 
 at least one controllable tool, configured to work on a workpiece;    an optical system configured to sense a location of each of the workpiece and the controllable tool in three-dimensioned space;    a controller communicatively connected to the laser tracker and to the controllable tool; and    a user interface, communicatively connected to the controller and configured to direct the controller to control the controllable tool.    
     
     
         22 . The tooling platform of  claim 21 , wherein the controller is communicatively linked to a database.  
     
     
         23 . The tooling platform of  claim 22 , wherein the database includes at least one numeric model of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part.  
     
     
         24 . The tooling platform of  claim 23 , wherein the database includes at least one standardized procedure for a repair of an aircraft, assembly, sub-assembly or component part.  
     
     
         25 . The tooling platform of  claim 24 , wherein the database includes a tooling library containing operating characteristics of at least one controllable tool.  
     
     
         26 . The tooling platform of  claim 21 , wherein the optical system includes a laser tracker.  
     
     
         27 . The tooling platform of  claim 21 , wherein the optical system includes a video camera.